We have a large'ish open fire and I'm tempted to make, or to get made,
something to close-off the chimney when the fire isn't in use (which is
most of the time). Has anyone here done the same?

(Yes, I know I could fit a wood burner but it's a large fire in a formal
room and it just wouldn't look right - according to SWMBO)

On 23/12/2020 01:22, wrote:
We have a large'ish open fire and I'm tempted to make, or to get made,
something to close-off the chimney when the fire isn't in use (which is
most of the time). Has anyone here done the same?

(Yes, I know I could fit a wood burner but it's a large fire in a formal
room and it just wouldn't look right - according to SWMBO)

I have used these
https://www.chimneysheep.co.uk/
and they seem to do the job (keep the draughts out).
They may be something of a gimmick (cue sheep jokes) and I have no idea
if there's a better option, but they tick a few boxes for me.
I have no connection with the company mentioned other than as a buyer of
their products.

On 23/12/2020 01:22, wrote:
We have a large'ish open fire and I'm tempted to make, or to get made,
something to close-off the chimney when the fire isn't in use (which is
most of the time). Has anyone here done the same?

(Yes, I know I could fit a wood burner but it's a large fire in a formal
room and it just wouldn't look right - according to SWMBO)

If it's only used rarely, a chimney balloon is the thing, looks like an
inflatable pillow.

--
Cheers
Clive

On 23/12/2020 01:22, wrote:
We have a large'ish open fire and I'm tempted to make, or to get made,
something to close-off the chimney when the fire isn't in use (which is
most of the time). Has anyone here done the same?

(Yes, I know I could fit a wood burner but it's a large fire in a formal
room and it just wouldn't look right - according to SWMBO)

This umbrella product was considered niche by the dragons, and laughed
off for the cost.
https://www.chimella.com/

Something fitted permanently would probably need to have safety
interlocks added, to avoid closing the chimmney if the fire is in use.

Why not close it for good, and install an LCD monitor and an infra-red
space heater?

--
Adrian C

Adrian Caspersz wrote:

This umbrella product was considered niche by the dragons, and laughed
off for the cost.
https://www.chimella.com/

I have a rolled-up offcut of rockwool shoved up mine.

On 23/12/2020 10:48, Allan wrote:
On 23/12/2020 01:22, wrote:
We have a large'ish open fire and I'm tempted to make, or to get made,
something to close-off the chimney when the fire isn't in use (which
is most of the time). Has anyone here done the same?

(Yes, I know I could fit a wood burner but it's a large fire in a
formal room and it just wouldn't look right - according to SWMBO)

I have used these
https://www.chimneysheep.co.uk/
and they seem to do the job (keep the draughts out).
They may be something of a gimmick (cue sheep jokes) and I have no idea
if there's a better option, but they tick a few boxes for me.
I have no connection with the company mentioned other than as a buyer of
their products.
Thanks, but I'd ruled-out a DIY version of those because of the problems
of storing a big sooty thing, and crud falling down when it's pulled
from the chimney

On 23/12/2020 11:29, Adrian Caspersz wrote:
On 23/12/2020 01:22, wrote:
We have a large'ish open fire and I'm tempted to make, or to get made,
something to close-off the chimney when the fire isn't in use (which
is most of the time). Has anyone here done the same?

(Yes, I know I could fit a wood burner but it's a large fire in a
formal room and it just wouldn't look right - according to SWMBO)

This umbrella product was considered niche by the dragons, and laughed
off for the cost.
https://www.chimella.com/

Something fitted permanently would probably need to have safety
interlocks added, to avoid closing the chimmney if the fire is in use.

Why not close it for good, and install an LCD monitor and an infra-red
space heater?

I discounted chimellas and balloons because they're only slightly better
than a made-to-fit DIY wooden panel (and it's quite a large fireplace) -
storage and crud being the main problems. I'm thinking of a metal frame
with a pivoted metal plate, similar to these:
https://www.chimneydampers.co.uk/fireplace-dampers

On 23/12/2020 11:07, Clive Arthur wrote:
On 23/12/2020 01:22, wrote:
We have a large'ish open fire and I'm tempted to make, or to get made,
something to close-off the chimney when the fire isn't in use (which
is most of the time). Has anyone here done the same?

(Yes, I know I could fit a wood burner but it's a large fire in a
formal room and it just wouldn't look right - according to SWMBO)

If it's only used rarely, a chimney balloon is the thing, looks like an
inflatable pillow.

Discounted because of storage, crud and size

On Wed, 23 Dec 2020 11:54:13 +0000, wrote:

If it's only used rarely, a chimney balloon is the thing, looks
like an
inflatable pillow.

Discounted because of storage, crud and size

Storage - a ballon deflates, deflate, shove it in a bag.

Crud - Is going to fall down anyway. At least with a balloon you
know when it's going to.

Size - See storage and surely with a little used fire place "storage"
is up the chimney. B-)

--
Cheers
Dave.

On 24/12/2020 09:20, Dave Liquorice wrote:
On Wed, 23 Dec 2020 11:54:13 +0000, wrote:

If it's only used rarely, a chimney balloon is the thing, looks
like an
inflatable pillow.

Discounted because of storage, crud and size

Storage - a ballon deflates, deflate, shove it in a bag.

Crud - Is going to fall down anyway. At least with a balloon you
know when it's going to.

Size - See storage and surely with a little used fire place "storage"
is up the chimney. B-)


+1

and at £15 or so you don't have to use it for long to cover the cost
(assuming the fire doesn't rely on air from vents you close when not
using it).

--
Robin
reply-to address is (intended to be) valid

On 23/12/2020 11:48, wrote:

Thanks, but I'd ruled-out a DIY version of those because of the problems
of storing a big sooty thing, and crud falling down when it's pulled
from the chimney

Irrespective of any mode of blocking you are going to get the crud that
has fallen on the blocking mechanism dropping down when opening up
again, otherwise where do you expect this crud to disappear to?

Even with a bespoke fixed design consider how it is to be cleaned.


--
mailto : news {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk

In message , alan_m
writes
On 23/12/2020 11:48, wrote:

Thanks, but I'd ruled-out a DIY version of those because of the
problems of storing a big sooty thing, and crud falling down when
it's pulled from the chimney

Irrespective of any mode of blocking you are going to get the crud that
has fallen on the blocking mechanism dropping down when opening up
again, otherwise where do you expect this crud to disappear to?

Even with a bespoke fixed design consider how it is to be cleaned.

I think they centre pivot so the crud slides off when opened.

The fixing trick is knowing that you have to take out and replace some
brick above your fire opening.

--
Tim Lamb

On 24/12/2020 10:21, alan_m wrote:
On 23/12/2020 11:48, wrote:

Thanks, but I'd ruled-out a DIY version of those because of the
problems of storing a big sooty thing, and crud falling down when it's
pulled from the chimney

Irrespective of any mode of blocking you are going to get the crud that
has fallen on the blocking mechanism dropping down when opening up
again, otherwise where do you expect this crud to disappear to?

Even with a bespoke fixed design consider how it is to be cleaned.


An angle-iron frame around the outside with a pivoting, removable and
counterbalanced plate that fits into the frame.

On 23/12/2020 11:07, Clive Arthur wrote:
On 23/12/2020 01:22, wrote:
We have a large'ish open fire and I'm tempted to make, or to get made,
something to close-off the chimney when the fire isn't in use (which
is most of the time). Has anyone here done the same?

(Yes, I know I could fit a wood burner but it's a large fire in a
formal room and it just wouldn't look right - according to SWMBO)

If it's only used rarely, a chimney balloon is the thing, looks like an
inflatable pillow.


Possible downside.

If Santa gets stuck, there will be no presents this year.

--
Adrian C

On 24/12/2020 10:55, Tim Lamb wrote:
In message , alan_m
writes
On 23/12/2020 11:48, wrote:

Thanks, but I'd ruled-out a DIY version of those because of the
problemsÂ* of storing a big sooty thing, and crud falling down when
it's pulledÂ* from the chimney

Irrespective of any mode of blocking you are going to get the crud
that has fallen on the blocking mechanism dropping down when opening
up again, otherwise where do you expect this crud to disappear to?

Even with a bespoke fixed design consider how it is to be cleaned.

I think they centre pivot so the crud slides off when opened.

The fixing trick is knowing that you have to take out and replace some
brick above your fire opening.

No, it would be fixable from inside the chimney and have minimal effect
on the throat when open

On 24/12/2020 10:55, Tim Lamb wrote:
In message , alan_m
writes
On 23/12/2020 11:48, wrote:

Thanks, but I'd ruled-out a DIY version of those because of the
problemsÂ* of storing a big sooty thing, and crud falling down when
it's pulledÂ* from the chimney

Irrespective of any mode of blocking you are going to get the crud
that has fallen on the blocking mechanism dropping down when opening
up again, otherwise where do you expect this crud to disappear to?

Even with a bespoke fixed design consider how it is to be cleaned.

I think they centre pivot so the crud slides off when opened.

The fixing trick is knowing that you have to take out and replace some
brick above your fire opening.

A crow fell down my chimney that is lined with a stainless steel double
insulated liner.

Normally they fall down the open fire flues, **** on everything and fly
out of a window.

But this one came to rest against the rotating chimney damper of the
wood stove, where it couldn't get out and I couldn't pull it down
either. After a week the noises stopped, but the damper was jammed.

Eventually, come this winter, I lit a fire.

That cleared the blockage.

Obviously you get the chimney swept *before* you install a blocker. Then
it won't drop soot when you take it out for the winter

And the crows instead of flying out of the open fireplace, will simply
die, instead.


--
The theory of Communism may be summed up in one sentence: Abolish all
private property.

Karl Marx

On 24/12/2020 11:31, Adrian Caspersz wrote:
On 23/12/2020 11:07, Clive Arthur wrote:
On 23/12/2020 01:22, wrote:
We have a large'ish open fire and I'm tempted to make, or to get
made, something to close-off the chimney when the fire isn't in use
(which is most of the time). Has anyone here done the same?

(Yes, I know I could fit a wood burner but it's a large fire in a
formal room and it just wouldn't look right - according to SWMBO)

If it's only used rarely, a chimney balloon is the thing, looks like
an inflatable pillow.


Possible downside.

Â*If Santa gets stuck, there will be no presents this year.

Ha! I'll wait until after Christmas to make any changes ;-)
Fortunately our Covid isolation ends at 1 second past midnight on
Christmas day, so we'll be able to welcome him/her/it.

In message ,
writes
On 24/12/2020 10:55, Tim Lamb wrote:
In message , alan_m
writes
On 23/12/2020 11:48, wrote:

Thanks, but I'd ruled-out a DIY version of those because of the
problems* of storing a big sooty thing, and crud falling down when
it's pulled* from the chimney

Irrespective of any mode of blocking you are going to get the crud
that has fallen on the blocking mechanism dropping down when opening
up again, otherwise where do you expect this crud to disappear to?

Even with a bespoke fixed design consider how it is to be cleaned.
I think they centre pivot so the crud slides off when opened.
The fixing trick is knowing that you have to take out and replace
some brick above your fire opening.

No, it would be fixable from inside the chimney and have minimal effect
on the throat when open

Hmm. I have done a couple. Both times the best access was through the
front of the chimney.

--
Tim Lamb

In article ,
wrote:
On 24/12/2020 10:55, Tim Lamb wrote:
In message , alan_m
writes
On 23/12/2020 11:48, wrote:

Thanks, but I'd ruled-out a DIY version of those because of the
problems of storing a big sooty thing, and crud falling down when
it's pulled from the chimney

Irrespective of any mode of blocking you are going to get the crud
that has fallen on the blocking mechanism dropping down when opening
up again, otherwise where do you expect this crud to disappear to?

Even with a bespoke fixed design consider how it is to be cleaned.

I think they centre pivot so the crud slides off when opened.

The fixing trick is knowing that you have to take out and replace some
brick above your fire opening.

No, it would be fixable from inside the chimney and have minimal effect
on the throat when open

Getting a good seal with something permanent and designed to work with an
open fire too isn't going to be easy.

--
*If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

On 24/12/2020 11:52, Tim Lamb wrote:
In message , writes
On 24/12/2020 10:55, Tim Lamb wrote:
In message , alan_m
writes
On 23/12/2020 11:48, wrote:

Thanks, but I'd ruled-out a DIY version of those because of the
problemsÂ* of storing a big sooty thing, and crud falling down when
it's pulledÂ* from the chimney

Irrespective of any mode of blocking you are going to get the crud
that has fallen on the blocking mechanism dropping down when opening
up again, otherwise where do you expect this crud to disappear to?

Even with a bespoke fixed design consider how it is to be cleaned.
Â*I think they centre pivot so the crud slides off when opened.
Â*The fixing trick is knowing that you have to take out and replace
someÂ* brick above your fire opening.

No, it would be fixable from inside the chimney and have minimal
effect on the throat when open

Hmm. I have done a couple. Both times the best access was through the
front of the chimney.

OK. I'm going mostly by this chap:
https://www.chimneydampers.co.uk/fireplace-dampers (and the fact that we
have a large stone fire surround that I do not intend to disturb). The
fire opening is over 1m wide and nearly a metre high, reducing to a
good-size square flue - there seem to be several fixing good
opportunities for fixing points.